On the stony hillside of the hill of apparitions in Medjugorie, more pilgrims slowly enter, their steps guided by the words of the rosary. In the air, the familiar melodies of 'Hail Mary’ and 'Ave Maria’ blend together, creating a harmonious backdrop to their journey. It’s a beautiful sight, especially considering Medjugorie is visited by numerous Polish and Italian pilgrim groups.

I have to admit that I wasn’t a pilgrim when I went, but I was curious about this place. Most of the people who visit Mostar also go to Medjugorie and to place of apparitions. One local said, „I don’t understand why all Poles, when they are here, always go to Medjugorie.”

Well, as you can see, I am a typical Pole, because I did not resist the temptation either. I know it might sound a bit strange, but if we’re not there for religious reasons, there’s not much to see in the town.
Pilgrims come here to climb the hill of apparitions and pray, or to take part in the Stations of the Cross along the route up the hill if you’ve got time.

Medjugorie. Apparition Hill

When I arrived at the foot of the hill, after a twenty-minute walk in the heat straight from the bus station, I was surprised to see so many pilgrims of all ages. I was surprised because most of them were well past their prime, but what surprised me most was the fact, that they were climbing this hill. It’s not a particularly high hill, but the uneven stones and lack of a smooth path, make it a bit of a challenge. You really can’t walk up in sandals, and it’s easy to twist your ankle.

As you ascend, you will pass the Stations of the Cross every few metres in height. Near them, successive groups of pilgrims stop to pray. For people like me, this is a bit of a hassle, as getting through the praying groups is neither easy nor polite. But I can’t help it, I didn’t come to Medjugorie to pray, I came here out of sheer curiosity, as I already mentioned. Walking calmly, after a dozen or so minutes we will be at the top. It is true that the Way of the Cross leads towards the summit and around the mountain, but the place of apparitions will be on the right.

It is very easy to locate, as there is a large statue of the Virgin Mary standing there. And there would probably be something mystical about this place, there would be some kind of reverie-filled silence commanded by the plaque. It would have been, had it not been for the sound of jackhammers coming from below, from the side of the town. Unfortunately, I found myself at just such a time. It’s a pity, because the Hail Mary prayer, uttered in many languages, every moment, at each station of the Way of the Cross, has something of the mystique about it. There is something solemn in the successive voices intoning the prayers, there is hope in the voices intoning the successive prayers and answered by the rest of the pilgrimage. And there is concentration on the faces of the pilgrims listening to the teachings of the priests.

But there is another side to the coin. Although the first apparition took place in 1981, the Vatican has still not recognised Medjugorie as a place of miracles. So the faith of the masses and the decisions of the Vatican are somewhat at odds here, but this does not bother the thousands of pilgrims, nor the inhabitants of the town. Medjugorie is constantly expanding, with new hotels, guesthouses, pubs and shops springing up all over the place, crowded with pilgrims.

Stalls sell rosaries, angels, statues of the Virgin Mary, pictures of the Pope (we can choose which one, as John Paul II is also here). Every now and then there is a grocery store, also crowded with pilgrims, because the prices in the taverns are a little higher than in nearby Mostar, for example.

How to get to the Apparition Hill

When you arrive at the site (bus station), you will see the towers of the church in front of you. Walk towards them, then turn left in front of them and follow the paved main road. Keep walking with the church towers on your right. After about 20 minutes you will reach the top of the apparitions, which is about 2.5km. A map with a schematic route is available at the church. It is advisable to familiarise yourself with the map of Medjugorie and the location of the apparition on the map before you arrive. See the map below:
https://goo.gl/maps/5v7PCX1yJXPvRTkm8

How to get to Medjugorie from Mostar

It’s easy to get here on your own! You can get here from nearby Mostar. From the city’s local station (not the one next to the railway station, but the one behind the bridge – a 15-minute walk from the railway station). Buses leave every two hours or so. It is therefore worth leaving early, as return buses run at the same frequency. Just remember that buses to Medjugorie do not run on Sundays and the journey takes about 45 minutes.

Of course, if you came to Bosnia and Herzegovina by car, you will get to Medjuorie without any problems. You can also, like many people, combine a visit to a place for the spirit with a place for the body, such as the Kravice Waterfalls. Many individual travelers do just that.

Hotels in Medjugorie

Medjugorie is a really big pilgrimage business and the town abounds in a multitude of different types of accommodation. Above all, large hotels reign supreme here, where accommodation can easily be found for the numerous pilgrimage groups arriving here with their coaches. But more intimate accommodation can also be found here. Just use this search engine